NEWS: The mayor of Lewisham, Steve Bullock, met with the leader of Southwark council, Cllr Peter John, last week.
Cllr John reassured the mayor that Southwark are reviewing this issue and there are no immediate plans to use the Rec for burial. They also agreed to work together on longer term solutions to the limited burial space in Lewisham and Southwark.
A great start, but what is needed is a joint commitment to protect the Rec as a permanent open green space, now and for the future. The campaign will go on!
A reminder to all supporters that Southwark Council cabinet are meeting on 19 April to discuss burial options. Yes, we say that the Rec should NOT be one of those options.
WHAT TO DO:
So, if you haven't emailed Barrie Hargrove and the other Cabinet members, then please do so now. Tell them why the Rec should not be used for burial, why it should be protected and why you think the that free open green space is vital for our community!
email addresses below in a lower post ......
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Sunday, 20 March 2011
cabinet meeting postponed until April!
The Southwark cabinet meeting to discuss burial options has been postponed until 19 April so you have a little more time to email those cabinet members below!
We still say that the Rec should not be considered as one of those options.
But why the postponement?
The comprehensive burial audit taking longer than expected?
Meaningful discussions, liaison and planning happening between neighbouring boroughs?
A realisation of the importance of local green space in our city and the need for its protection?
Or to have a consultation period that includes the Easter and Royal wedding holiday periods?!
Please start to collect any paper petitions you have put out into the community and take them to Dave Stephens at the coffee shop at Honor Oak station - thanks!
And by the way, Joan Ruddock has signed the e-petition!
We still say that the Rec should not be considered as one of those options.
But why the postponement?
The comprehensive burial audit taking longer than expected?
Meaningful discussions, liaison and planning happening between neighbouring boroughs?
A realisation of the importance of local green space in our city and the need for its protection?
Or to have a consultation period that includes the Easter and Royal wedding holiday periods?!
Please start to collect any paper petitions you have put out into the community and take them to Dave Stephens at the coffee shop at Honor Oak station - thanks!
And by the way, Joan Ruddock has signed the e-petition!
Sunday, 6 March 2011
more good news and next steps!
3 Southwark councillors for Peckham Rye ward - Victoria Mills, Renata Hamvas and Gavin Edwards - have stated publicly that they support the protection of the whole Rec as a public green space. However .... there is a Southwark Cabinet meeting on 22 March where decisions will be made on burial options.
barrie.hargrove@southwark.gov.uk
peter.john@southwark.gov.uk
fiona.colley@southwark.gov.uk
dora.dixon-fyle@southwark.gov.uk
richard.livingstone@southwark.gov.uk
catherine.mcdonald@southwark.gov.uk
veronica.ward@southwark.gov.uk
abdul.mohamed@southwark.gov.uk
Step 2 If you are connected to a local school or group, ask them to email or write to the Cabinet members
Time is short! Take a few minutes to do it now!
What you can do:
Step 1 email or write to the Cabinet members to tell them why the Rec is important to you and that using the Rec for burial should not be one of the optionsbarrie.hargrove@southwark.gov.uk
peter.john@southwark.gov.uk
fiona.colley@southwark.gov.uk
dora.dixon-fyle@southwark.gov.uk
richard.livingstone@southwark.gov.uk
catherine.mcdonald@southwark.gov.uk
veronica.ward@southwark.gov.uk
abdul.mohamed@southwark.gov.uk
Step 2 If you are connected to a local school or group, ask them to email or write to the Cabinet members
Time is short! Take a few minutes to do it now!
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Lewisham Council backs bid to save the Rec
Good news!
Cllrs Alex Feakes and Pauline Morrison proposed and seconded the motion below, which was passed unanimously by Lewisham Council:
"The London Borough of Southwark is considering taking land from the Honor Oak Recreation Ground in order to expand Camberwell New Cemetery. The Recreation Ground is much used by residents of Forest Hill and Honor Oak, as well as Southwark residents, and the plan under consideration could result in considerable loss of local amenity and leisure space.
This council notes that the Recreation Ground has already had a substantial proportion of its original land taken in by the cemetery, and that other options are available for managing demand for burial space.
This council states its opposition to the further loss of amenity and leisure space at Honor Oak Recreation Ground and, notwithstanding any statutory consultation that may occur, calls on the Mayor to make representations to London Borough of Southwark to this effect."
This is a positive first step! Ready for the next one .........
Cllrs Alex Feakes and Pauline Morrison proposed and seconded the motion below, which was passed unanimously by Lewisham Council:
"The London Borough of Southwark is considering taking land from the Honor Oak Recreation Ground in order to expand Camberwell New Cemetery. The Recreation Ground is much used by residents of Forest Hill and Honor Oak, as well as Southwark residents, and the plan under consideration could result in considerable loss of local amenity and leisure space.
This council notes that the Recreation Ground has already had a substantial proportion of its original land taken in by the cemetery, and that other options are available for managing demand for burial space.
This council states its opposition to the further loss of amenity and leisure space at Honor Oak Recreation Ground and, notwithstanding any statutory consultation that may occur, calls on the Mayor to make representations to London Borough of Southwark to this effect."
This is a positive first step! Ready for the next one .........
Sunday, 20 February 2011
sunday 27 feb: support continues to grow!
community support:
We have well over a thousand signatures on the e-petition and there are many posters and paper petitions out there in shops, cafes, stations, churches, community groups, schools and school councils .......
If you want to sign the e-petition, print any posters or petitions, click on that link on the right .......
Keep spreading the word and gaining support! People really care about this open space!
They want it kept now and for the future!
We don't need to wait for some sort of consultation - we are letting Southwark Council know now!
After all, Barrie Hargrove spoke on BBC London News saying: "We've now reached the point where Southwark cemeteries are almost full and we need to consider different options and one of the options is to reclaim the Recreation Ground."
media stuff:
We had lots of great coverage on BBC London News, Radio 4 Today programme and the South London Press.
This is all now easily available for you to look at on our new Media page - click on the Media link on the right ........
And keep a look out in the New Shopper, Southwark News and SE23 Forum
council business:
We hear that the Southwark Council meeting to discuss burial options has been put back to the end of March. We understand that this will be informed by a burial audit but we are still waiting to find out more details. It isn't for want of trying ......
Meanwhile, in Lewisham, Cllr John Bowen has informed the Friends group he intends to put forward the following motion at the next Lewisham Council meeting on 1 March:
"The London Borough of Southwark is considering taking land from the Honor Oak Recreation Ground in order to expand Camberwell New Cemetery. The Recreation Ground is much used by residents of Forest Hill and Honor Oak, as well as Southwark residents, and the plan under consideration could result in considerable loss of local amenity and leisure space.
This council notes that the Recreation Ground has already had a substantial proportion of its original land taken in by the cemetery, and that other options are available for managing demand for burial space.
This council states its opposition to the further loss of amenity and leisure space at Honor Oak Recreation Ground and, notwithstanding any statutory consultation that may occur, calls on the Mayor to make representations to London Borough of Southwark to this effect."
John Bowen (Liberal Democrats, Crofton Park Ward)
If you are a Lewisham resident, write to your councillors calling on them to support this motion without reservation.
If you are a Southwark resident, write to your councillors and let them know what you think!
We have well over a thousand signatures on the e-petition and there are many posters and paper petitions out there in shops, cafes, stations, churches, community groups, schools and school councils .......
If you want to sign the e-petition, print any posters or petitions, click on that link on the right .......
Keep spreading the word and gaining support! People really care about this open space!
They want it kept now and for the future!
We don't need to wait for some sort of consultation - we are letting Southwark Council know now!
After all, Barrie Hargrove spoke on BBC London News saying: "We've now reached the point where Southwark cemeteries are almost full and we need to consider different options and one of the options is to reclaim the Recreation Ground."
media stuff:
We had lots of great coverage on BBC London News, Radio 4 Today programme and the South London Press.
This is all now easily available for you to look at on our new Media page - click on the Media link on the right ........
And keep a look out in the New Shopper, Southwark News and SE23 Forum
council business:
We hear that the Southwark Council meeting to discuss burial options has been put back to the end of March. We understand that this will be informed by a burial audit but we are still waiting to find out more details. It isn't for want of trying ......
Meanwhile, in Lewisham, Cllr John Bowen has informed the Friends group he intends to put forward the following motion at the next Lewisham Council meeting on 1 March:
"The London Borough of Southwark is considering taking land from the Honor Oak Recreation Ground in order to expand Camberwell New Cemetery. The Recreation Ground is much used by residents of Forest Hill and Honor Oak, as well as Southwark residents, and the plan under consideration could result in considerable loss of local amenity and leisure space.
This council notes that the Recreation Ground has already had a substantial proportion of its original land taken in by the cemetery, and that other options are available for managing demand for burial space.
This council states its opposition to the further loss of amenity and leisure space at Honor Oak Recreation Ground and, notwithstanding any statutory consultation that may occur, calls on the Mayor to make representations to London Borough of Southwark to this effect."
John Bowen (Liberal Democrats, Crofton Park Ward)
If you are a Lewisham resident, write to your councillors calling on them to support this motion without reservation.
If you are a Southwark resident, write to your councillors and let them know what you think!
This is not a party political issue or a single borough issue but one that affects everybody who lives near to or uses the Recreation Ground!
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Campaign to Save the Rec Goes National!!
The Campaign to Save Honor Oak Rec hits the national media
Radio 4 - Today programme did a piece on the shortage of burial space, particularly in London. The item highlighted the tension between open space for the living and space for burial, and focussed on our rec.
We will all, no doubt, have differing views about burial, but that is not the point at issue. Burial in its current form is unsustainable. There may be a shortage of burial space now, but even if the rec is taken for burials there will still be exactly the same problem in a few years - but no recreation ground.
What we need is a sustainable solution to the burial issue, that allows the rec to be protected for the living!
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Poster and Petition Launched!!!
things we can do now:- sign the e-petition, click here
- get local friends to sign the e-petition
- download and print the poster and display in your window
click on the pictures
to download now
- print poster and paper-petition and circulate to local friends, shops, schools, libraries etc
- continue to contact ward councillors
- check back here for updates
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